Isaac Brown could pose a dilemma for Jeff Brohm

Coaches face a dilemma when dealing with rookies who appear to be developed beyond their years.

Give them full promotion or full protection?

Louisville coach Jeff Brohm will soon have to answer that question with rookie quarterback Isaac Brown making his record-breaking debut in the Cardinals’ 62-0 win over Austin Peay.

“Whenever you play a freshman in Game 1, you worry about getting blocked, not knowing all the plays, losing the ball,” Brohm said. “But he practices really hard, and his demeanor and work ethic overcome a lot of that.”

Both approaches carry some risk.

Putting a freshman in the spotlight and making him the face of the program, especially in today’s age of social media, could cause him to suffer the fate of Icarus.

There are no limits to the memes on Instagram and TikTok, which unwittingly serve as a fire to ignite the wings of young stars who want to soar to the upper stratosphere.

Too much restriction on a freshman — both on and off the field — may have its own solution.

It used to be common practice for coaches to not allow rookies to speak to the media until after their first game. Today’s players are much more adept than previous generations at branding and marketing. Limiting their media exposure can be interpreted as limiting their ability to establish a name, image, and likeness (NIL).

And forcing them to wait patiently behind the seniors so they can play is almost like inviting their rivals to manipulate them. The worst-kept secret in college football is that there are schools that secretly contact players from other rosters and use NIL money as an incentive to transfer.

Brown has such talent that he will have to force a resolution to the conflict with Brohm.

He rushed for 123 yards on just five attempts with a touchdown against the Governors, the most rushing yards in program history by a first-year starter.

“He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s elusive, he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands,” Brohm said. “He’s got a certain quickness that you just don’t coach.”

Let’s stop here for a moment and consider the show’s all-time greatest players.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Cards’ all-time leading rusher, has 4,132 career receiving yards and had 106 in his 2015 debut against Auburn.

Walter Peacock, who played from 1972-75 and held the school rushing record for 42 years before Jackson, totaled just 70 yards in his entire freshman season.

Even Michael Bush, arguably the best University of Louisiana quarterback this century, had a less-than-auspicious debut as a freshman, recording two carries for minus-5 yards against Kentucky in 2003.

Brown is by no means headed for a 1,000-yard season just because he torched Austin Peay’s defense. It’s only the first game. He still has a lot to learn about pass blocking, preparation and defending. But he showed the skills that will translate to the Cards’ level of play.

Speed. Acceleration. Field of view.

Brohm said he is confident in what he has seen from veteran running back Maurice Turner and Miami transfer Don Chaney. Those players, along with freshman Keyjuan Brown, will help bolster U of L’s running game.

But Brown’s second 35-plus-yard touchdown run against Austin Peay — a 77-yard touchdown — convinced me he was an exceptionally talented player who could have a special season ahead of him.

Unless the University of L. becomes overprotective.

Contact sports columnist CL Brown at [email protected]follow him on X on @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss any of his columnS

Isaac Brown could pose a dilemma for Jeff Brohm

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